Then and Now

This template is for a photo-based contest where entrants post a first-day-versus-today image or another meaningful throwback from their early days with the organization. The community votes on the best transformation, and the winner is determined by score, not by random draw. It works best when you want a light, positive culture activity that celebrates progress and belonging.

It is designed for individual entrants, so each person submits their own before-and-after story. Managers can participate unless you choose to exclude them, but many teams keep it open to everyone to make the contest feel inclusive. If you want a more level playing field, encourage entries that focus on growth, role changes, or milestones rather than seniority.

The template is set up for 14 days, which is a good fit for a culture contest that needs enough time for people to find photos, write captions, and vote. Shorter runs can feel rushed, while much longer runs can lose momentum and turn into a passive feed. Two weeks usually gives you enough time to launch, promote, and close with a clear winner.

People should submit a first-day photo, an early-career throwback, or another meaningful then-versus-now image that shows how far they have come. The best entries usually include a short caption explaining the context, such as a first shift, first office, first uniform, or first team event. Keep the prompt focused on positive growth so the contest stays celebratory rather than comparative in a negative way.

This template uses community_votes in a submission contest, so the winner is the entry with the strongest verified vote score. That makes it a true contest rather than an ad-hoc photo thread, and it gives people a reason to engage with each other’s stories. If you want to reduce popularity bias, you can pair voting with a judge panel or use a smaller internal audience.

A common mistake is asking for vague nostalgia without a clear submission prompt, which leads to uneven entries and low participation. Another is letting the contest run too long, which weakens the sense of occasion and makes voting feel optional. It also helps to avoid ranking people on anything sensitive; this template works because it celebrates visible change, not personal performance.

Yes. You can tailor the prompt to a specific milestone, such as first day on the job, first uniform, first store, first site, or first class cohort. You can also narrow it to a department, location, or onboarding class if you want more relevant entries and easier voting. The badge prize and points by rank can stay the same, or you can adjust them to match your recognition style.

An informal chat thread is easy to start, but it usually lacks structure, voting, and a clear finish. This template gives you a defined duration, a submission format, and a winner selection method, which makes it easier to promote and easier for people to understand. It also creates a reusable format you can run again for future culture moments.

Close voting on the scheduled end date, announce the winner, and highlight a few standout entries so the whole group gets recognition. Save the best submissions for onboarding, culture pages, or internal newsletters if participants are comfortable with that reuse. A short recap helps the contest feel complete and makes the next one easier to launch.